Illustration & Visual Narrative - Final Submission

Illustration & Visual Narrative - Final Submission

 January 10 ,2025

NAME: Hu Yao Ping

I.D: 0376768

COURSE: Bachelor of design (hons) in creative media

GROUP: 02

Illustration & Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media

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Instructions:

TASK 1:Vormator Challenge - character creation

TASK 2 : Composition

TASK 3:Illustrated Typography Poster

Final Project

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TASK 1：Vormator Challenge - character creation (20%)

Task Introduction：

   

  In this task, you will take part in the , a creative exercise aimed at teaching the fundamentals of vector illustration and character design using Adobe Illustrator. The challenge limits you to a set of pre-defined shapes, and your goal is to create a unique character by combining and manipulating these shapes while adhering to specific rules.  

Then I imported the teacher's materials into the AI ​​software and followed the steps to create. Below I followed the basic monster model given by the teacher, but I wanted to add my own creativity, so I added a crown and a monster beard.

Thinking further, I felt that this monster was a bit monotonous, so I wanted to add a scepter to it to match his crown, so that it looks like the king of monsters.

Final Result：

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Task 2 : Composition (20%)：

Task Introduction：

Place your Vormator character into a Pokemon card composition, incorporating foreground, midground, and background elements. You may also create a new shape not bound by the vormator rules or shapes. You may also come up with a new character that does is not bound by the vormator shapes.

First I added color and shadows to my vomator character. Then I designed a background that included the front, center, and back. The background theme was red to add visual impact and add a sense of horror to the monster. It also has a magical feel. Here is the result after I merged the layers:

Here are the results：

Name: Shadowfang, Overlord of the Abyss

1. Features

• Appearance: Shadowfang is huge, covered with black scales, and gleams mysteriously in the dark. It has a pair of huge curved horns on its head, with ancient runes engraved on the horns, symbolizing its mysterious power.

• Personality: Shadowfang is ferocious and cunning by nature, guarding the treasures in the cave. It is ruthless to intruders, but at the same time it has its own pride and respects those opponents who have courage and wisdom.

• Habitat: Shadowfang lives in a bottomless underground cave, surrounded by pink stalactites and stalagmites, and the environment is gloomy and mysterious. There is a red stone platform deep in the cave, which is Shadowfang's throne, symbolizing its rule over this territory.

2. Abilities

• Shadow Manipulation: Shadowfang can manipulate the power of shadow at will. It can move instantly in the dark, making it impossible for the enemy to grasp its whereabouts. At the same time, it can summon dark tentacles from the shadows to bind and attack the enemy.

• Fear Deterrence: Shadowfang's presence alone can emit a fearful aura, making the creatures around him feel extremely fearful and uneasy. This fearful aura can weaken the enemy's fighting will and make them more likely to make mistakes in battle.

• Scepter Power: The scepter in Shadowfang's hand is a symbol of its power. The decoration on the top of the scepter can emit powerful energy rays that can easily penetrate rock and metal and cause great damage to the enemy.

Shadowfang is the overlord of the underground world. Its power and majesty make all intruders stay away. Only the bravest and wisest adventurers have the opportunity to challenge it and may obtain precious treasures from its territory.

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TASK 3：Illustrated Typography Poster (20%):

Task Introduction：

For this assignment, you'll design a typographic poster that explores the art of typography as a visual and expressive element. Your poster should effectively convey a selected "Quote of the Day" through creative typography, using a combination of typeface families (primarily sans-serif) and unique stylistic choices. This is an opportunity to experiment with typography as a visual medium, incorporating Illustrator techniques and minor graphical elements to enhance your message.

First study Google fonts, then type this paragraph in ai

Then I added a background to the font. Most importantly, I changed the shape of the font a little bit, so that it looks more distinctive.

Final Result：

1. Font Design

• The color of the font is orange, which usually represents vitality, energy and creativity. This color choice further emphasizes the importance of self-expression and individuality.

2. Background Design

• The background is composed of repeated, blurred "Be Yourself" text, a texture effect. This design makes the theme text more prominent and also strengthens the message of "Be Yourself".

• The background text is darker in color, which contrasts sharply with the orange text in the foreground, enhancing the visual impact.

3. Overall Double

• The poster as a whole conveys a power that encourages self-expression and individuality. It warns people through visual elements not to be bound by the standards of care, but to bravely exercise their true side.

This poster successfully conveys the positive and inspiring message of "Be Yourself" through a simple and powerful design.

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Illustration & Visual Narrative - Final Project:

TASK 1 - Comic Cover

1. Moodbard

For our final project, we are assigned to make an animated on-page comic page, and an illustrated comic cover page. The theme we created is "The Monkey's Paw", a short story published in 1902 by the British writer W.W. Jacobs. This novel is a classic suspense and horror story, known for its philosophical theme and thriller ending.

First, I started to make a moodboard on the story, it included reference of art style, layout, sketches and rationale. After consideration, I have decided to choose the climax of the story as my animated comic page, this is the theme of the novel, the monkey's paw. I drew a monkey and a big paw.

2. Comic Cover Page

After I have had a sketch, I started to illustrate the comic cover page as it was easier. I first imported my sketch into Adobe Illustrator. 

Fig. 2.1 Sketches for cover page

Then I imported the draft from Procreate into AI software and started to further depict it. I thought that the overall style of this comic was horror, so the colors should be darker.

Fig. 2.2 Process 1

After adding the theme words, I chose a green style for the whole thing, and then used black for the monkey’s fur. The monkey in the illustration looks eerie and slightly mysterious, and his facial expression seems to reveal a kind of indifference or implicit threat. The existence of the monkey corresponds to the title of the story and the protagonist “The Monkey’s Paw”

Fig. 2.3 Process 2

I then added some blurred text and structural patterns in the background, perhaps symbolizing the unresolved web of fate in the story. The chaotic feeling of the text may hint at the unpredictable consequences of making a wish with the monkey's paw.

Fig. 2.4 Process 3

The protruding monkey's paw is slender and strange, and the outstretched posture of the paw seems to imply some uncontrollable power, reinforcing the theme of "supernatural desire" in "The Monkey's Paw". The color and line style of the paw make it look stiff and ominous.

Fig. 2.5 Process 4

The overall atmosphere is created by using cold tones (blue-green) and contrasting warm tones (orange). The cold tones create a surreal and weird feeling, while the orange claws highlight its danger.I wanted this cover art to convey the mysterious and horrifying core of The Monkey’s Paw, inspiring readers to think deeply about fate and desire.

Final Result：

Fig. 2.6 Final comic cover page

TASK 2 - Animated Comic Page

1. Non-animated comic page

After I imported my sketch into Adobe Illustrator, I have started tracing it out. I used the pen tool, pencil tool, brush tool, and knife tool to finish this process. 

Fig. 1.1 Process 1

Fig. 1.2Process 2

Fig. 1.3 Process 3

Fig. 1.4 Process 4

Fig. 1.5Process 5

Final Result：

Fig. 1.6 Final non-animated comic page

2. Animation 

Then I started working on my second frame of the comic, as I just want to make a simple animation. 

Fig. 1.7 Process 6

When I was doing my second frame of the comic, I realised that it should not be too much adjustment, or else it would look messy. So, I changed quite a few times just to get a result that I liked. Because I wanted to highlight the theme while also making some changes, I chose the most eye-catching ones and made some simple adjustments.

Fig. 1.8 Process 7

I imported my comic page into Photoshop, to make a GIF using the create frame option. After this, I thought it was good enough.

Fig. 1.9 Final animated comic page